PEER Teacher Requested Resource
Lesson Plan
Cell VS. Organism
Summary:
Cells have many functions that mirror functions of organisms. The purpose of this 5E lesson plan is to help
students understand cells better and to understand and be able to compare the functions of a cell to the functions of
the organism they inhabit.
Keywords: Cell function, organism function, gas exchange, nutrient uptake and processing, waste excretion,
reproduction
Subject TEKS:

Science: 7.12(E)- The student will compare the functions of a cell to the functions of organisms such as
waste removal.
Grade Level: 7th
Lesson Objectives:
 The Student will be able to compare the functions of a cell to the functions of organisms.
 The Student will be able to identify structures on a cell and be able to describe its function.
Materials needed:
 Engage Quiz
 Explore Game Sheets and pieces (1 set for each student) and Cards (1 set for each set of four students)
Background Information for Teacher:
 Teachers should understand the function of cells and how those functions can be related to the functions of
organisms.
Lesson Procedures: Based on 5 E Model1 – Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate

Engage Step- 15 minutes
Give the students the cell quiz to make sure that they understand how cells work. This will give them a
chance to review what they have learned about cell structure and function.
Questions from:
http://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/squizzes/biology/cellgr7.html?question_hide
http://www.zerobio.com/target_practice_quiz/target_practice_quiz_cells.htm
http://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/squizzes/biology/cell_structures.html?question_hide\
1
See 5E Model link under Resources at end of lesson plan
A product of the Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health at
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Funding support from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health
Cell VS. Organism
http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/biology/cell_structure/quiz356.html

Explore Step- (30-45 minutes)
Have Students play the Build a Cell Game created by Kelly Riedell. Below is a link to the site where the
game board and question cards are available.
http://local.brookings.k12.sd.us/biology/teacherlinks/buildacell.htm

Explain Step - (30 minutes)
Show the students the PowerPoint. Have them take turns reading and have them take notes over what is in
the presentation.

Elaborate Step- (15 minutes in class and rest can be done at home)
Have the students choose a function listed in the PowerPoint that they didn’t understand and have them do
research on it. They will need to write a two paragraph (at least) paper compiling their research. They will
need to include information about how the cell performs the function and about how the organism performs
the function.

Evaluate StepThe Engage quiz should not be graded as it is more of a way to review and see how much students
remember about cells. This is however, a good way to see how much students remember and how much
you will need to review.
You can see how much the students know in the Explore step by seeing how well they are doing in the
game. The winner from each group can receive a prize or bonus points.
For the Elaborate step the papers should be graded. To do well they must have included information on the
cell function and the organism function. The paper should also not be less than two paragraphs long. You
can also have students share what they learned to the class.
Resources for Teacher:

5 E model site and other lesson plan formats:
o http://www.bscs.org/pdf/bscs5eexecsummary.pdf

Explore Step Game Link
o http://local.brookings.k12.sd.us/biology/teacherlinks/buildacell.htm

Links for PowerPoint information
o http://www.mrothery.co.uk/exchange/exchange.htm
o http://jackie8k.hubpages.com/hub/Gasesous-Exchange-in-Cell-Division
A product of the Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health at
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Funding support from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health
Cell VS. Organism
o http://www.suite101.com/content/how-plants-get-nutrients-a198919
o http://www.plantcell.org/content/11/4/661.full
o http://pranavankirupakaran.webs.com/process.htm
o http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5187361_do-cells-obtain-food-oxygen_.html
o http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/197851/excretion/58691/Plants
o http://www.thefreedictionary.com/exudation
o http://www.historyforkids.org/scienceforkids/biology/cells/excretion.htm
o http://courses.washington.edu/conj/bess/neuralreg/neuralreg.html
o http://home.earthlink.net/~dayvdanls/plant_behavior.html
o http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/reproduction.html
o http://biology.about.com/od/genetics/ss/Asexual-Reproduction.htm
o http://biology.about.com/od/basicgenetics/a/aa062708a.htm

Links for Engage Step
o
o
o
o
http://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/squizzes/biology/cellgr7.html?question_hide
http://www.zerobio.com/target_practice_quiz/target_practice_quiz_cells.htm
http://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/squizzes/biology/cell_structures.html?question_hide\
http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/biology/cell_structure/quiz356.html
A product of the Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health at
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Funding support from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health